Continuous laminating machine



April 13, 1937. K. D. LoosE E-r Al.

CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet l April 13, 1937. K. D. LoosE ET AL CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE v 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct f2, 1935 April 13, 1937. K. D. LoosE Er 'AL CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed oct. 2'. 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 QM www.

, /M/ew a. oasi www@ @www

April 13, 1937- K. D. LoosE ET AL 2,076,657

CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE I I A Filed 0011. 2,` 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet'4 April 13, 1937. K; D. LoosE ET Ax.

CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed oct. 2, 1935 9 Sheets-*Sheet 5 MQ v@ QQ ATTORNEYS April 13, 1937. K. D. LoosE EVAL I CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed oct. 2,1935

' 9 Sheets-Sheet 6` .SLA

April 13, 1937. K. D. LoosE ET AL n CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2,.l95,5 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 55M s nf 1MM N 50. a Vamr. Jo W731i ,7W w Mum NRE r Mms u, Cv, f .www mw K. D. LOOSE Er AL CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE April 13,-1937.

Filed oct. 2, 1935 9 sheets-sheet a K. `D. LOOSE ET Al. 2,076,657

CONTINOUS LAMINATING MACHINE Filed octy 2, 1935 vsa sheets-sheet 9 April 13, 1937.

www

mwN wwwww ..\.I www ww Patented Apr. 13, 1937 Kenneth D. Loose, Bronxville, N. Y., and

W. 'Watkins and Joseph W. Green,

Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, Long Island City, N. Y.,

Ohio, assgnors to New York Charles Dayton,

a corporation of Application OctoberZ, 1935, Serial No. 43,246

10 Claims.

This invention relates to machinery for use in bakeries, and in particular, to machines used in the preparation of dough prior to the baking operations.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine for combining dough with certain ingredients, known as enrichments, to form alaminated product, in sheet form, consisting of a plurality of layers of dough and enrichments.

Another object is to provide a machine for receiving the laminated dough sheet and multiplying the laminations by folding the dough sheet, upon itself by lapping operations.

Another object is to provide devices for sealing the edges of the laminated dough sheet prior to the lapping operations.

Another object is to provide a lapping device` wherein the dough sheet, during the depositingoperations, is maintained in close proximity to the conveyor upon which the sheet is lapped, the lapping device moving to and fro across the conveyor, with its delivery point moving substantially parallel to the conveyor.

Another object is to provide a dough laminating and lapping machine wherein the lamination and lapping devices provide for the distribution of the enrichment materials throughout the dough without requiring undue working or mixing operations upon the dough.

Another object is to provide a dough laminating and lapping machine wherein the lapping device is caused to oscillate to and fro as well as reciprocate, thereby laying down the dough `sheet at a point close to the receiving surface, regardless of the position of the lapping device in its path of motion.

Another object is to provide a continuously operating dough laminating and lapping machine lin which the dough is fed onto a conveyor and ingredients inserted between the layers of dough,

the laminated dough sheet thus formed travelling continuously through the machine and being acted upon by devices, causing it to be lapped and overlapped a multiplicity of times and rolled at various stages so that the dough sheet emerges in a continuous strip from the end of the machine, this dough sheet being thereby formed into afproduct having a large number of thin layers of dough and enrichment materials.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 1s a side elevation of the laminating section of the machine, togetherrwith the iirst lapping section thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, but looking from the opposite side thereof.

' Figure 3 is a left-hand end lelevation of the machine shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a.- plan view of the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of the laminating section of the machine.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of the first lapping section of the machine.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the laminating part of the mac 'ne shown in Figure 5, taken along the line 'l-l of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the rst lapping part of the machine, taken along the line/8 8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 4is a horizontal section through the hopper feed rollers, taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show diagrammatically the right and left-hand skip gears employed in the driving mechanism for the lapping device in the extreme positions thereof.

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical section through the lapping devicedriving mechanism shown in Figures 10 to 13, inclusive, taken along the line I4-I4 of Figure 6.

Figures 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatic sectional views of the lapping device, similar to Figure 8 but showing the lapping device in various positions during its cycle of operation.

Figurel is a diagrammatic perspective view of the lapping device shown in Figures to 17, illustrating the overlapping of the dough sheet, brought about by the travel of the lapping device to and fro across the conveyor upon which it deposits the dough sheet.

l General construction In general, the machine of this invention com- -prises a series of hoppers arranged in sequence and adapted to deposit dough and enriching materials upon a moving conveyor, thereby producing a long, strip or sheet of dough in laminated form, and having alternate layers of .dough ,and enrichment. The laminated sheet thus formed isfed between rollers with in such a manner as to cause the beveled edges edges of the dough sheet to-be sealed, thereby preventing the escape of the enrichmentmaterials. The dough sheet is further fed intov a lapping device which deposits the dough upon a conveyor, and at the the sheet to and fro across the itself is moving.

same time moves conveyor while the conveyor V'Ihis operation results in the lapping and overlapping of the dough sheet upon itself as it moves through the machine.

'Ihe thus overlapped sheet passes through rollers which'press it down to an even thickness, and

it is then conveyed to a second lapping device whichA brings about another overlapping of the previously overlapped dough sheet or strip. After being again overlapped the sheet passes l0 through another set of rollers, by which it is again pressed into even iorm, whereupon it is carried upward and deposited upon another conveyor upon which further operations are carried out which are beyond the scope of the present invention.r 'I'hese furtherl operations comprise cutting the dough into -proper form for further treatment, or baking and the like.

I 'I'he machine of this invention produces a laminated and lapped dough which may be used for a large variety of products, such as crackers, ,cookies and, various types of wafers or biscuits. Ihe purpose of the lamination is to distribute the enrichment materials throughout the dough without requiring the undue working or mixing 'of the dough, such'operations detracting from :the quality of the baked product obtained from said dough.

Hitherto, in producing'baked articles Vof the type produced by the present machine, the dough and enrichment materials were prepared in batches and mixed together, either in mixing ma- 'chines or by hand. The enrichment materials tnay be of a variety of kinds, such as fats, cheese, iiavoring materials, or other materials of a different character than the dough. By the present invention this mixing and repeated working of the dough are avoided, a superior effect being obtained by the lamination of the dough with the enrichment materials between the dough layers, this being lapped, overlapped and rolled a plu- 'rality of times until the final product comprises an article with, a large number of thin layers of alternate dough and enrichment material.

By this arrangement it is possible to employ a series of doughs having diiferent characteristics. For example, the outer layers of dough may have ilrm characteristics, whereas the middle layer of dough may be too rich to form into an ordinary sheet of dough. By thus placing the rich layer between the outer layers the rich layer is given the necessarysupport, and with the layers of enriching materials enables a superior product to be made than could be prepared by the ordinary processes 'and apparatus. The 55 "number of times the sheet is overlapped by the lapping device can be regulated by varying the relative speeds of the lapping device and the con-v veyor upon which the sheet of dough is deposited. The result is a sheet of dough of lighter consistency than the prior art mixing methods and apparatus produce.

Laminating mechanism The laminating portion of the machine is shown at the right-hand side oi" Figure 1, and comprises vertical frame members I interconnected by longitudinal top and bottom frame members 2 and 3, connected by suitable cross members. In the framework thus formed is 4 and enrichment hoppers 5. In the embodiment of the invention shown and described there are three dough hoppers 4 and two enrichment hoppers -5 arranged between the dough hoppers. Mounted upon the lower frame members 3, as

mounted an alternate series of dough hoppers by the supports 4 and 1, are shafts 8 and 3 carrying sprockets III and II (Figures '1 and 5) upon which an endless enrichment conveyor I2 operates.

'I'he endless enrichment conveyor I2 consists of interconnected slats I3 moving in an orbital path between the shafts 8 and 8; around the sprockets I3 and II, the upper section of this conveyor passing immediately beneath the enrichment hopper 5. One of these conveyor as- 1 semblies is arranged beneath each enrichment hopper 5. vThe shaft 8 is arranged in bearing blocks I4, which are movable to and fro in rectangular slots I5, under the influence ofthe screw shaft I6 and the hand wheel I1. By turning the j 3 from the right-hand to the left-hand endsl thereof, the left-hand end being. supported by the roller 20 V(Figure 7), also Journalled in and between the longitudinal frame members 3. The

dough-laminating conveyor I8 is supported at in-r termediate points along its path by guide rollers 2| (Figure 7). At a point near its left-hand end (Figures 5 and '1) the dough-laminating conveyor IB passes around rollers 22, 23, 24, and 25, secured to the shafts 26, 21, 28, and 29, respectively. The ends of these shafts are journalled in the frame members 30 secured to the longitudinal frame members 3 and vertical frame members I,

and are drivingly interconnected by gearing. The shaft 21 (Figure 5) carries a pinion 3| meshing with a pinion 32 upon the shaft 26. This, in turn, meshes with a. pinion 33 mounted upon the shaft 34. T'he pinion 33 meshes with a pinion 35 upon the roller shaft 28, and this in turn, meshes with a pinion 36 mounted upon the roller shaft 28. By this means the dough-laminating conveyor I8 is positively driven from the shaft 21, the remaining driving connections of which will be' subsequently described.

'I'he top of the laminating section of the machine (Figure 4) is provided with a. platform 40, which has apertures 4| `leading into the dough hoppers 4 and apertures 42 leading into the enrichment hoppers 5. The dough hoppers 4 con sist of bins extending downwardly from the platform 40 and aperture 4I, and are provided with sloping walls 43 leading to a delivery aperture 44 at the bottom of each hopper (Figure 7). Secured to the opposite side walls of the dough hoppers 4 (Figure '1) are adjustable guide plates 45, pivotally mounted. as at 48, upon the side walls. At the lower extremities of the sloping walls 43 are the roller shafts 41 and 48, these .being journalled in the bearing blocks 43 (Figure 9), mounted in the channel members 85. respectively, (Figure '1). The side plates 58 and 5I`are secured to the frame uprights I and 'the middle longitudinal frame members 52. A

On the shafts 41 and 48 are mounted the hubs' 53 and 54 of the hopper feed rollers 55 and 58, respectively. The spacing between the peripheries of the hopper feed rollers 55 and 58 may aumen? be varied. This is accomplished by having the bearing block 49 horizontally movable within elongated apertures 51. 'I'he bearing blocks 49 are urged to the left (Figure 9) by the coil springs 58, having their opposite ends resting against the angle members 59 secured to the channel members 65 and the side plates 5|. On their opposite sides the bearing blocks 49 are engaged by the screw shafts 60, threaded through the posts 6| 10 mounted on the channel members 65 and the side plates 50 and carrying the sprockets 62, interconnected by the sprocket chain 63. i

One of the sprockets 62 is provided with a hand crank 64 by which both sprockets 62 and both l5 screw shafts 60 may be simultaneously rotated.

When this is done the bearing blocks 49 and.

the hopper feed roller 55 are caused to move to and fro, thus causing the space between the hopper-feed rollers 55 and 56 to be varied, as desired. During their. reciprocation the bearing blocks 49 are supported in the channel members 65 (Figure '7) and the side plates 50.

The bearing blocks 49 serve to support scraper arms 66, to the outer ends of which are attached the scrapers 61, as by the cap screws 68 (Figure '1) The scrapers 61 serve to prevent dough from passing completely around the peripheries of the hopper feed rollers 55 and 56. The roller shafts 41 and 48 on their outer ends carry worm gears 69 and 10 within the housings-1| and 12 (Figures 5 and 9). Meshing with the worm gears 69 and 10 are the right-hand and left-hand worms 13 and 14, respectively. The worms 13 and 14 are mounted upon the hopper drive shaft 15, this to the frame uprights I and also to the end frame upright 11 (Figures 1 and 5). At its left-hand end the hopper drive shaft 15 is journalled in the bearing bracket 18 secured to the frame cross member 19, winch in turn, is secured to the frame end upright 80 (Figures 1 and 4). Beyond the bearing bracket 18 the hopper drive shaft 15 is provided with a bevel gear 8|, which provides the driving connection therefor. 'I'he remainder of the driving connections `will be subsequently described.

:The enrichment hoppers 5 are in the form of rectangular bins extending downwardly from the platform apertures 42 (Figures 4, 5 and '1), and are provided at one end with an outwardly flared side wail 90. The bottom of each enrichment hopper 5 is open so as to discharge the Vcontents of the hopper directly onto the upper surface of the enrichment conveyor l2. The quantity of enrichment materials deposited upon the enrichment conveyor I2 is regulated by the gate 9|, having an arm 92 carrying a bearing 93, which rotatably receives the lower end of the screw shaft 94. The screw shaft 94 passes through a threaded bore 95 in the bracket portion 96 ofthe support 6. 'Ihe screw shaft 94 at its upper end is provided with a hand wheel 91, by the turning of which the gate 9| is raised or lowered, thus regulating the thickness of the enrichment layer deposited upon the conveyor l2.

Maindriving mechanism The main driving mechanism (Figures 1, 2, 3

and 4) is mounted upon the top of the left-hand endof the machine, as shown in Figure 1. This left-hand end comprises a framework having vertical uprights |00 interconnected by cross members |0|, and having the top members |02 servlng to support the top cross members |03 (Figures 1 and 2). The top cross members |03 serve to being journalled in bearing brackets 'I6 secured support the main driving motor |04 and a pair of variable speed transmissions |06 and |06. The motor |04 carries a pulley (Figure 2) |01, which drives a pulley |08` upon the variable speed transmission |05 by means of the belt |09. The pulley |08 is mounted upon a shaft ||0 which serves as the ln-put shaft of the variable speed transmission |05, the out-put shaft of which carries the sprocket i I2 (Figure 1), around which passes the sprocket chain ||3 forming a driving connection with the sprocket ||4 upon the in-put shaft` |06. The sprocket ||9 is interconnected with the sprocket |2| upon the in-put shaft |22 of the variable speed transmission |23 by means of the sprocket chain |24. The in-put shaft |22 likewise carries the sprocket |25 (Figures 2 and 4), which is interconnected with the sprocket |26 on the input shaft |21 of the enrichment conveyor variable speed transmission |28 through the sprocket chain |29 (Figure 2).

This in-putshaft |21 at its opposite end carries a sprocket |30 vinterconnected with the sprocket |3| on the in-put shaft |32 of the enri'chment conveyor variable speed transmission |33 by means of the sprocket chain |34. I'he output shafts |35 and |36 of the enrichment conveyor variable speed transmissions |28 and |33 are provided with sprockets |31 and |38 (Figure 2), having sprocket chains |39 and |40 leading to the sprockets |4| and |42, mounted upon the drive shafts 9 of the two enrichment conveyors I2 (Figures 2, 5 and 7). In this manner the enrichment conveyors l2 are driven from the main driving motor |04, and their speeds are adjustably regulated individually as well as collectively through the different variable speed transmissions. The out-put shaft |43 of the variable speed transmission |23 (Figure 2) carries a sprocket |44 having a sprocket chain |45 leading to the sprocket |46 upon the shaft 21, driving the dough conveyor I8 (Figures 2 and 5),' in the manner previously described.

'I'he output shaft |20 of the variable speed transmission |06 carries the sprocket |50, having the sprocket chain |5| meshing with the sprocket |52 mounted upon the shaft |53. The latter also carries a second sprocket |52a similar to sprocket |52 and carrying the chain |5|a (Figures 2and 8) which encircles the sprocket |54 upon 'the shaft |55. The latter is journalled in the bearing blocks |56 and carries a bevel gear |51, meshing with a bevel gear |58 which serves to drive the lapping conveyor mechanism, as subsequently described. The shaft |53 carrying the sprockets |52 and |52a is journalled in the bearing brackets |60, and carries the bevel pinion |6I. The latter meshes with the bevel gear 8| mounted upon and driving the hopper drive shaft 15, in the manner previously described'.

Consolidating rolls The dough-laminatingconveyor I8 (Figure '7) discharges the's'heet or strip of laminated dough into the space between the upper and lower consolidating rolls |10 and |1|, mounted upon'the shafts |12 and |13, respectisQly. The roll shafts |12 and |13 (Figure 5) are journalled in the 5 80.l The lower consolidating roll bearing block |15 is fixed in position and rests upon the mem-'- ber |18. whereas the upper bearing block |14 is slidable within the aperture |16, this sliding being controlled by the screw shafts |18 secured thereto. The screw shafts |18 for the bearing blocks |14 at the opposite ends of the roll shaft |12 are interconnected by bevel gearing (not shown), operated by the hand wheel |80 upon the shaft |8| rotatably mounted in the brackets |82 15 (Figure 7) upon the upper end of the consolidat- .ing roll support bracket |11. By this mechanism the space between the consolidating rolls |10 and |1| may be accurately adjusted.

The consolidating rolls |10 and |1| are driven from the shaft |53 in the upper left-hand corner of Figures 5 and '1, the driving connections of this shaft |58 having been previously described. The shaft |58 carries a sprocket |83 (Figures 5 and 7), having the sprocket chain |84 driving the sprocket |85 mounted upon the end of the lower roll shaft |13. The opposite end of the shaft |18 (Figure 5)` carries a sprocket |86, which has Aa sprocket chain |81 communicating power to the-sprocket |88 upon the roller shaft |88. The latter is opera- '30 tive to drive 'the first dough transfer conveyor,

the construction of which is subsequently to be described.

Dough-transfer conveyor There are four dough-transfer conveyors, the first of which is arranged immediately beyond the consolidating rolls |10 and |1|. The first dough-transfer conveyor |85 (Figure 7) con- ,sists of a belt, similar to the dough-laminating 40 conveyor |8 and similarly supported upon the opposite end rolls |85 and |81, respectively, (Figures 7 and 8). The upper end roll |81 is journalled in the bearing blocks |88, slidably mounted in the rectangular apertures |88 of the dough- 45 transfer conveyor framework 208. TheJbearingblocks |88 may be moved to and fro to tighten or loosen the 'dough-transfer conveyor |85 by turning the screw shafts 20| secured to the bearing blocks |88. The dough-transfer conveyor |85, 5() during the upper part` ofiits travel, rests upon the bed plate 202, which in turn, is supported; by the framework 200. The dough-transfer conveyor |85, along the lower part of its travel, passes around the rollers 203, 204, 205 and 205, mounted re- 55 spectively upon the roller shafts 201, 288, |88 and 2|0, in much the same manner as the doughlaminating conveyor I8, previously described.

On the end of the roller shaft 208 is mounted a pinion 2|| (Figure 6), meshing\with a lsimilar 60 pinion 2|2 mounted'upon the end of the roller shaft 201.4 The plnion`2|2 meshes with a pinion 2|3 upon the shaft 2|4, and the latter meshes with a pinion 2| 5 upon the end of the roller shaft 2|0." The pinion 2|5 meshes with a pinion 2|8 e5 mounted upon the roller shaft |88, the latter being drivenby the sprocket |88 from the sprocket chain |81, in the manner previously describ...-.i`.

m9288219 me .shownl inthe lower right-hand corner of Figure 15' 6. The bevel gear |58 meshes with the bevel gear |51, mounted upon the shaft |55.' this shaft being driven by the sprocket |54 from the sprock.

et chain I5|a (Figure 6) as previously described. The bevel gear |58 is mounted upon theshaft 220, supported in the bearing brackets 22| (Figures 3 and 6). I'he shaft 220 carries a pulley 222, which has a belt 228 of the linked slat type. communicating power` to a similar pulley 224 upon theshaft 225 supported in the bearing brackets 225. The bearing brackets 22| and 228 are supported by the frame cross membersl |0|. The shaft 225 is provided with a sprocket 221 having a sprocket chain 228, communicating power to a sprocket 228 upon the shaft 288 journalled in the bracket 28|, secured to the longitudinal -fram member 282.

'Ihe shaft 230-(Figure 3) carries a worm 288, meshing with a worm gear 284 upon the feed roll shaft 235. The latter carries a gear 285, meshing with a similar gear 231 upon the vfeed roll shaft 288. The worm gear 284 and the worm 288 are containedwithin the housing 288. The feed rollshafts 285 and 288 barry feedrolls248 and 24|,4 respectively, (Figures 6 and 8). The

feed roll shaft 285 is/journalled in the fixed bearing blocks 242, supported in the longitudinal frame members 248, whereas the feed roll shaft 288 is joumalled in thel movable bearing blocks 244 (Figure 6), slidably mounted in the channel-like portion 245 of the frame members 248. The movable bearing blocks 244` are urged 'in one direction by the coil springs 245, and in the oppositdirection by the screw shafts 241 and 248 (Figures 6 and 8)', carrying sprockets 248 and 258, inter-- connected by the sprocket chain 25|. The sprock'v On the opposite end of the feed roller shaft- 285from the gear 285 are mounted thegear 258 and sprocket 25,4. 'I'he gear 258-,meshes with an idler gear 255 mounted upon the 'shaft 258 and meshing with the idler pinion 251 upon the pivot shaft 258 ofthelapper, generally designated 258 (Figure 6). The pinion 251 meshes with a pinion 250, mounted upon the shaft 25|, the opposite end of which (Figure 8) carries a gear 252. meshing with a similar gear 258 upon the shaft 254. These shafts are Journalled in the end frames 255 of the lapper 258.

The shafts zu and zu are provided 'with rouers 255 and 251, respectively, serving` to support y the lapper belt 2 88 at the top portion of its travel..

the bearing blocks 21|, which aire djustedto andI fro within the rectangular allicl'tur'es 2 12 by the` screw shafts218, thereby tightening or .loosening the lapper belt 258. Beyond therollrs 258 the lapper belt 258 passes over the rollers 214, rotatwhereas the s'lidable members 211 are adapted to' reciprocate within the guideway 218 in the lapper end frames 285 (Figln'e).

Extending outward from one of the slidable double rack 28| is dove-tailed,V as at 282 (Figure 14) and is reciprocably received within a dovetailed groove 283 in a supporting member 284 mounted between vthe frame uprights |00 (Figure`6). Consequently, it will be seen that when the double rack 28| is moved to and fro along the supporting member 284, the lapper 259 will swing pendulum-like to and fro, and the slidable members 218 will reciprocate back and forth on the end frames 285, thereby causing the lower or delivery end of the lapper 259 to follow a horizontal path. 'Ihe supporting member 284 is mounted upon brackets 285, attached to the frame uprights |00.

The mechanism by which the double rack 28| is reciprocated in this manner consists of a pair of skip gears 280 and 29|, each having teeth along r but a part of its periphery (Figures 6 and 10 to 14). lThe teeth on the Skip gear 290 mesh with the outer rack portion 292, whereas the teeth upon the skip gear 29| mesh with the inner rack portion y293, both of these rack portions being -located upon the double rack 28|. The skip gear 29| is keyed to the shaft 294 (Figure 14), this shaft being driven by the sprocket 295 mounted thereon, and receiving power, by way of the sprocket chain 288, from the sprocket 242 upon the feed roll shaft 235 (Figure 6).

Keyed to the shaft 284 is a gear 291 (Figure 14), meshing with an idler gear 288 upon the shaft 298, the latter being journalled in the plate 300, secured to the frame upright |00 (Figure 8). The idler gear 298 meshes with a gear 30|, keyed to the shaft 302.- Also keyed to this shaft is a gear 303 meshing with the gear 304, keyed to the sleeve 305 (Figure 14). Also keyed to the sleeve 305 is the skip gear 290, the sleeve 305 itself being loosely mounted upon the shaft 294.

In this manner the skip gears 290 and 28| engage their respective rack portions 292 and 283, the teeth on one skip gear servingvto move the rack in one direction, whereupon the teeth of the other skip gear engage the corresponding rack 5 portion to force the rack in the opposite direction (Figures 10 to 13). In Figure 11 the outer.

skip gear 280 is shown prior to its engagement with its rack portion 292, whereas the inner skip gear 29| (Figure 10) is shown near the end of 50 its engagement with its rack portion 293 at the 'same instant. In Figure 13,` however, the skip gear 280 is shown as having moved around into a position starting its engagement with its rack portion 282, while the inner skip gear 29| in Fig- 55 ure 12 is just completing its engagement with its rack portion 293. l

The lapping conveyor 3|0, upon which the dough is deposited from the lapper 259, consists of an endless belt arranged between rollers 3|| 0 and 3|2. 'l'he roller 3|| is mounted upon the shrft 3|3, suitably journalled in the frame brackets 3|4 attached to the frame uprights |00 (Figures-r3 and 8). The roller 3|2 is mounted upon the shaft 3|5, journalled in the bearing blocks 3|6., which are slidably mounted in the rectangular apertures 3|1 in the supporting brackets 3|8. The latter are mounted upon the frame uprights |00. The lapping conveyor 3|0 may be tightened or loosened by moving the bearing blocks 3|8 0 inward or outward by means of the screw shafts The lapping conveyor is driven from the shaft 225 through thevf/ollowing intermediate mechanism. Mounted on the shaft 225 (Figure 3) is 5 a gear 320, meshing with a gear 32| upon. the

shaft 322, the latter carrying a pinion 323, mesh.

mounted upon a shaft 330. The 'shaft 330 carries a sprocket 33|, driving a sprocket chain 332, which in turn, drives the sprocket the shaft 3|5, which carries the roller 3|2 supporting one end of the lapping conveyor 3|0.

Second dough-transfer conveyor The second dough-transfer conveyor (Figure 3) serves to convey the lapped dough from the first lapping device, shown on the -right-hand side of Figure 3, to the second lapping device, shown on the left-hand side thereof. The second dough-transfer conveyor 338 is of similar type to th`e rst dough-transfer conveyor |95, and is similarly operated, consequently, like parts are designated with similar reference numerals, and no further description is required. 'I'he second dough-transfer conveyor is driven from the shaft 330, which extends through the side plates 331 thereof, from one side of Ith'e conveyor to the other. 'This shaft 330 carries a roller and pinions similar to the devices described in connection with the first dough-transfer conveyor |95. The connections by which the shaft 330 is driven have just been described.

Second lapping device 'I'he second lapping device shown on the lefthand side of Figure 3, is mounted in an auxiliary framework parallel to the main framework containing the rst lapping device, andis of similar. construction (Figures 3 and 4). 'This mechanism receives the once lapped dough from the second dough-transfer conveyor 338/(Figure 3) and directs it between the feeding rolls 331 and 338 into the second lapper, generally designated 339, where it is distributed ,upon the second lapping conveyor, generally designated 340, in a manner identicall with that of the first lapping device previously described. Accordingly, similar reference numerals will be used for the detalls of the second lapping device, and a further description appears unnecessary.

The driving power of the second feeding rolls 331 and 338, the second lapper 339 and the second lapping conveyor 340 is received through the shaft |55 (Figure 4), which is driven from the main driving motor -|04 in a manner previously described. The rearward extent of the shaft |55 is journalled in bearings 34| and 342, beyond which it is provided with sprockets 343 and 344. The sprocket344 carries asprocket chain 345 which drives a sprocket 348 (Figure 2), mounted upon the shaft 341, .which in turn, is journalled in bearings 348 (Figure 4) upon the frame 349, mounted upon the cross members 350 supported upon the top members 35|, `these being carried by the vertical frame uprights 352. y

'I'he shaft 341 carries a pulley 353 which drives a similar pulleyl 354,'through the belt 355. the latter being composed of interconnected slats. The pulley 354 is mounted upon the shaft 358 (Figure 4), journalled l carrying the sprocket 358 upon one end thereof (Figure 2). The sprocket 358 carries the sprocket chain 359, driving the sprocket 880 upon the shaft 38 I, journalled in the supporting bracket 382 `attached to the frame cross member 383, supported by the frame uprights 352.

333 upon the end of in bearing blocks 351 and The shaft 36| of the second lapping device corresponds' to the shaft 236 of the first lapping device, previously described, and the subsequent connections are of identical construction and operation. Accordingly, similar reference numerals are used for these corresponding parts, and a further description thereof appears unnecessary.

'Ihe shaft 356, upon the opposite end from the sprocket 358, carries a pinion 364 (Figure 4) which meshes with agear 365 mounted upon the i shaft 366, the latter being journalled in the frame 349. The shaft 366 also carries a pinion 361 (Figure 4) meshing with a gear 368 mounted upon the shaft 369, likewise journalledin the frame 349.

The shaft 369 carries a sprocket 316, carrying a sprocket chain 31| arranged to drive a sprocket' 312 upon the shaft 313, journalled in the side plates 314 of the third dough-transfer conveyor 315 (Figure 2). On the Vopposite end of the shaft 313 is a sprocket 316, carrying a sprocket chain 311 driving a sprocket 318 upon the shaft 3F19, operating the second lapping conveyor 346. The subsequent driving connections, structure and operation of the second lapping conveyor 346 are similar to those of the ilrst lapping conveyor 3 I6, and similar reference numerals are employed (Figure 3).

Final dough-conveying and treating mechanism The third dough-transfer conveyor 315 is likewise similar to the first and second dough-transfer conveyors |95 4and 336, respectively, previously described, hence, .no further description is given.

The sprocket 343 on the shaft |55 carries a sprocket chain 386, driving a sprocket 38| upon a shaft 332 (Figures 2 and 4), journalled in the horizontal frame members 383. 4The shaft 382 `carries a pulley 334 which drives a similar pulley v with a gear 396 upon the shaft 39| (Figure 2) journalled in the subframe 392.

The shaft 39| carries a pinion 393 meshing with a gear 394 upon the roll shaft 395 of the second consolidating roll assembly. 'I'he shaft 395 is likewise supported by the subframe 392 and carries the lower consolidating roll 396, and likewise the gear 391 meshing with a similar gear 393 upon the upper consolidating roll shaft 399. The latter is similarly j ournalled in the subframe 392. and carries the upper consolidating roll 466.

The shaft 399 is mounted in bearing blocks 46|, reciprocable within the rectangular apertures 4,62 by means of the screw shaft 463 (Figure 2) whereby the distance between the consolidating rolls 396 and 466 may be accurately adjusted. A sprocket 464, likewise mounted upon the shaft 395, carries a sprocket chain 465, arranged `to drive the sprocket 466 upon the shaft 4II1 (Figure 4)'. y 65," The shaft 461 drives the fourth dough-transfer conveyor 463. 'I'hisconveyor-is similarin con# struction and operation to the ilrst, second and third dough-transfer conveyors previously described The fourth doughftransfer conveyor 499 7 0 deposits the dough sheet upon the apparatus with whichfurtheroperations are conducted upon the dough. 'I'his apparatusforms no part of the pres- 'ent invention, and may include, for example, cut- `ting the dough sheet into various forms and 7 5 transferring it to suitable baking ovens.

Operation In the operation pf the machine of this invention, the dough batch is deposited in the 'dough hoppers 4 through the lling apertures 4| (Figures 1 and 4) Aj: the same time the enrichment materials are placed in the enrichment hoppers 5 through the filling apertures 42. The dough passes downwardly between' the feeding rolls 55 and 56 (Figure 7) of each hopper and deposits itself upon the dough-laminating conveyor I6. 'I'he dough from the right-hand-hopper 4. in Figure 1, moves along this conveyor until it comes beneath the left-hand end of the righthand enrichment conveyor I2, which deposits its charge of enrichment materials upon the sheet of doughl coming from the first dough hopper 4. The dough sheet lwith its layer of enrichment thereon then passes beneath the middle dough hopper 4, where a second-sheet of dough issu- .neath the third dough hopper 4, where a third dough, layer is superimposed upon the second enrichment layer. The whole sheet then passes beneath the consolidating rolls |16 and |1I, which press the layers together evenly. The upper roll I1 ismitred at its ends, and presses down the edges of the dough to seal them.

The dough sheet is then deposited upon the firstdough-transfer conveyor |95, upon which it moves upwardly and is deposited upon the feeding roll 24|, moving downwardly between it and the feeding roll 246 until it drops into the space between the opposite belts of the i'irst lapper 259. Meanwhile, the first lapper has been oscillating to and fro, and the slidable members 211 at its nose portion reciprocating longitudinally in response to the reciprocation of the double rack 23| through its connection by means of the shaft296 (Figure 6). Consequently, the lower end of the lapper moves to and fro across the first lapping conveyor 3|6, in the manner shown in Figures 15 to i8, inclusive. The lower end of the lapper thus remains close to the surface of the conveyor, regardlessof the position into which itmoves, and the vdough is deposited evenly and accurately upon the conveyor.

In Figure 15 the lapper has deposited one layer of dough 4I6 upon the lapping conveyor 3| 6 and is at the end of its stroke, ready to begin a return stroke. In Figure 16 the llapper has half completed its return stroke, but the lapping oonveyor has meanwhile mved in a direction transverse to the motion of the lapper.- Accordingly, a portion 4II of the dough sheet remains superimposed upon the first laid portion 4|6, whereas another partv4|2 rests upon the lapping conveyor 3I6 itself where the nrst laid dough sheet has moved forward upon the conveyor. This action is also shown in Figure 13.

In Figure 17 the lapper has completed its re- .tum stroke and is readyjto begin another forward stroke. As -the lapping conveyor l3I6 moves forward, beneath the lapper therein, the latter deposits a layer'of dough, which by the action of the resulting mechanismlpursues a zigzag path across the conveyor, ove apping the dough layers beneath it.

Beyond the rst lapping conveyor 3|!) the now laminated dough sheet is deposited upon the second dough-transfer conveyor 336, and moves therealong until it is deposited upon the feeding roll 331 (Figure 3). The dough sheet now moves down between the feeding rolls 331 and 338 into the second lapper 339, which is also reciprocating over the second lapping conveyor 340. Here the already lapped dough is lapped a second time and the number of layers multiplied accordingly.

The thus re-lapped dough is deposited by the second lapping conveyor 340 upon the third dough-transfer conveyor 315 (Figure 2), upon which it moves upwardly and falls between the second set of consolidating rolls 396 and 400. These consolidating rolls press the various overlapping layers together and the dough emerges in a smooth sheet of substantially uniform thickness upon the fourth dough-transfer conveyor 408. 'I'he sheet moves upwardly upon this conveyor #U8 and is` deposited upon the subsequent apparatus, by means of which the further operations are conducted upon the dough.

Thus it will be seen that the dough sheet which iinally emerges from the machine is composed of a large number of alternate layers of dough and enrichment materials, each layer being extremely thin. This arrangement results in a superior product by distributing the enrichment properly within the dough, yet accomplishing this without the repeated working and mixingof the dough carried out in the prior art processes and apparatus. The action of the improved llapping device of this invention deposits the dough evenly and accurately upon the lapping conveyor because the space between the end of the lapper and the -conveyor, upon which the sheet is deposited, does not vary substantially throughout the entire stroke of the lapper.

We desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as may be embraced within our claims and the scope of our invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, and a yswinging member arranged to receive a continuous sheet of dough and deposit it upon the conveyor in overlapping layers, said swinging member being arranged to move across said conveyor with the dough-discharging portion thereof at a substantially constant distance from said conveyor.

2. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to swing to and fro across said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member, and mea-ns for maintaining said reciprocating member at a substantially constant distance from said conveyor during the motion of said reciprocating member thereacross.

3. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to swing t and fro across said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member, and a rack mechanism attached to said reciprocating member and adapted to move said reciprocating member across said conveyor in a path substantially parallel to said conveyor. v

4. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, .a swinging member arranged to swing to and fro across said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member, a pair of causing said reciprocating member to move in a substantially straight path while said swinging member is moving in an arcuate path about said i'lxed pivot.

6. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to swing about a fixed pivot to and froacross said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member arranged to reciprocate radially relatively to said swinging member, means for causing said reciprocating member to move in a substantially straight path while said.'v swinging member is moving `in an arcuate path about said xed pivot, and a pair of moving belts arranged between said swinging member and said reciprocating member for urging the dough downwardly therethrough.

7. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, a swinging memberarranged to swing about a fixed pivot to and fro across said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member, a movable rack` connected to said reciprocating member, a guide for said rack, and means for causing said rack to reciprocate alternately in opposite directions.

8. A dough-lapping device comprising a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to swing about a fixed pivot to and fro across 'said conving member, a movable rack connected to said reciprocating member, a guide for said rack, said rack having two sets of rack teeth, and a pair of gears, each gear being arranged to engage one set of said rack` teeth in alternate succession with the other gear, whereby to cause said rack to reciprocate alternately in opposite directions.

10. A dough-lapping device comprising. a conveyor, a swinging member arranged to swing about a fixed pivot to and fro'across said conveyor, a reciprocating member upon said swinging member, a movable rack connected to said reciprocating member, a guide for said rack, said rack having two sets of rack teeth, and a. pair of gears, each gear being arranged to engage one set of said rack teeth in alternate succession with the other gear, whereby to cause said rack to reciprocate alternately in opposite directions, said gears having teeth along a part only A of their peripheries. 

